Search - Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 10/14/2018...

Six part serial aired on the BBC in 1966. All six of these episodes were wiped by the BBC in the late 60's, to reuse video tape (expensive at the time) for other shows. 16mm foreign sales copies were also junked in the mid 70's. Until this animated Dvd release in 2017, 50 years on, these episodes only existed on audio, thanks to a young British fan who had spliced the input wires of his reel to reel onto the speaker leads of the family black and white television. And the BBC released these audio tracks first on cassette and then in 2004 on CD.

This is an awesome show, and the program hits the pavement hard directly after the regeneration of the First Doctor, and as dramatic a change from Hartnell as can be imagined. Indeed, Troughton makes a strong impression as the new Doctor, clowning and goofing through each sequence, energetically breathing new life in the character. The setting is closed and claustrophobic, bringing into focus the direct threat to a small human colony on the planet Vulcan. And the convoluted plot is one double cross upon double cross. Daleks here also appear much more cunning and evil than previous jaunts.

The animation is sufficient, though perhaps not quite as refined as some other animated attempts on other releases of Doctor Who. Still, this is a landmark release for fans, and finally a visual interpretation to witness, and to boot, in color!